Reversible latch.



E. H. SUMMERS.

REVERSIBLE LATCH.

unmnzon mum 11.11, 1909.

927,189, Patented July 6, 1909.

@Wmm 2 4 I 959% MIN am a @44 W EDWARD H. SUMMERS, OF WAPELLA, ILLINOIS.

REVERSIBLE LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1909.

Application filed March 11, 1909. Serial No. 482,802.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. SUMMERS, of Wapella, Illinois, a citizenof the United. States, residing at VVapella, in the county of Dewitt andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inReversible Latches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a combination. reversible latch, com osed ofvarious parts, and for use on sing e or double swinging or sliding doorsor gates.

The object of my invention is to provide a reversible automatic latch,that may be attached on either side of swinging or sliding doors orgates, and especially adapted to those swinging on hinges one disposedabove the other, permitting independent movement of the upper and lowersections.

With these objects in view, in describing my invention in detail,reference will be had to the accompanying drawings which form a part ofthis specification wherein like charac ters denote corresponding partsin the sev eral views, in which Figure 1, is a front view with the latchin position as it appears attached to double doors when closed, onesection above the other. Fig. 2, is a front view of the shield plate andmain body of the latch, adjusted in such manner as to permit the openingof the upper door section without interfering with the lower. Fig. 3, isa sectional view looking perpendicularly from above. Fig. 4, is a viewof the flange on the main plate, with dotted lines showing the keeperembracing the latch. Fig. 5, shows the interior latch lift, extendingthrough the door or gate frame, in position to engage the latch on thedoor or gate.

My invention consists of a friction or shield plate, 1, attachable bymeans of a screw through suitable opening 2, to the lower edge of theupper section of a swinging door or gate, perpendicularly disposed abovethe lower, and dlrectly above the main body of the latch on the lowersection of the door or gate, the bottom of the up er meeting the top ofthe lower rovided wit. square or beveled edges, the lieveled as shown bydotted line 3, preferred, as in this manner the door sections can beoperated as single sections, the keeper retaining them in position, butthis is not essential to the operation of the latch.

The hasp 4, attachable to the door or gate vice may be inserted ifdesired.

by screws through suitable openings, is provided with lateral flanges,'-5, projecting outwardly at right angles to the plate, in these flangesare perpendicular open slots, 6-6, arranged. to accommodate the latch,7, as it extends horizontally through a like slot in. the base plate, asherein shown. The flanges have beveled upper edges, permitting the latchto slide up over these edges, 8, and drop into the slots by its ownweight. They are also provided with openings, 9, near the bottom, forpurposes hereinafter stated.

10 is the base plate, provided. with suitable openings for screws toattach to the door or gate, and flanges at the ends, 1111, projectingoutwardly at right angles to the plate, in which are perpendicularslots, 12l2, to receive the latch in conjunction with the slots 5-5 inthe hasp 4. The upper edges of these flanges are beveled, 13, permittingthe latch to ride up over them and drop into the slots, by its ownweight. They are provided with openings near the bottom, 14,corresponding with like openings 9, in the flanges 55, through which afastening de- ApproXi- Inately in the center lengthwise, and near theupper side of the plate 8, is a pivot 15, engaging the three members,the latch 7, keeper 20 and the handle 16, in the manner detailed. Thelatch 7, pivoted at one end at 15, operates horizontally in the slots ofthe main plate 10 and extends beyond, engaging the slots 66 in hasp 1.

16 is a curved gravity handle, attached at one end. to the base plate 10by pivot 15, and in its handle as it extends along the base plate, is anopening 17, in proximity to the pivot, and on the interior of itscurving portion is provided a gravity weight, 19, of Suf ficientdimensions to cause the handle to drop by its own weight, therebycausing the latch to operate automatically.

The keeper 20, is a movable plate approximately V shape in outline,attached at its smaller end to the pivot 15, with a curved eX- tremityas shown by dotted line 21, projecting beyond the pivot, where it isprovided with a lug 22, extending outwardly at right angles to the bodyof the keeper, which lug extends through and operates in opening 17 ofthe handle, substantially as shown. This keeper is provided with aflange, 23, on its upper or larger end, extending outwardly at rightangles with its main portion, in which is provided an inclosed slotextending along the flange, as shown, 2424, through which. the latch 7extends sufliciently to engage the slots in the main plate 10 and thehasp 4, when in a horizontal position.

25 is an interior latch lift, pivoted at 26, to the door or gate frame,extending outwardly, through the frame, as shown by dotted line 28, andso arranged as to raise'the latch on the floor or gate on the outside.The end. of the-latch 7, is tapered at its end 7, andwhen the latch isapplied to sliding doors or gates, the rounded portion will permit it toslide up into the slot 24 until the neck of the latch reaches the slot,when the latch engages the bottom of the slot and drops into place.

From the foregoing description of my device, the working in detail ofthe various parts shows that the handle 16, the keeper 20, and the latch7 are pivoted at a single point on the base plate 10 that the handlebeing provided with agravity weight, 19, on the interior of its curvedportion, and an opening 17, in which operateslug 22 of the keeper, bymanipulation of the handle the keeper is raised or lowered as desiredby'the operator, and by this-action, the latch operating inslot 24*24,raises or lowers,'and on releasing the handle it drops by its ownweight, causing the keeper to rise andengage the upper section of thedoor or gateat plate 1, holding the door or gate in a closed position;the keeper is lowered by raising the handle, the opening in the handle,17, engaging lug 22 on the keeper. causing it to move up or down as thehandle is raised or lowered by the operator. The latch 7, extendingthrough the slot 242 4 in the keep er, operates in conjunction with it,moving up or down as the keeper moves up or down, and this is controlledin its movements by the handle 16 by the opening 17 engaging the lug 22on the keeper. The keeper assumes an elevated position as the operatorreleases the handle, and when the door is closed, holds it thus inposition. If the upper section, or the double door is to be closed, a

quick movement or shove and the upper section striking the flanges onthe keeper, forces it down, thereby raising the handle, which falling byits own weight, raises the keeper and holds the door closed, and thelatch rides up over the flanges on the base plate and the hasp, dropsinto the slots of these members, holding the door closed.

The foregoing description shows that the latch can be used on the rightor left side of the door orgate, working in all particulars in eitherposition as here described.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:-

1. In areversible latch of the class de scribed, a base plate havingflanges extending outwardly at right angles at its ends with bevelededges and perpendicular slots, to en.- gage the latch as it drops into ahorizontal position; a handle provided with a gravity weight and havingan openingin proximity to one end; a keeper, approximately V shaped,with a lug on the extreme point extending outwardly at right angles tothe main body, and a flange on the upper portion extending outwardly atright angles to the main body which is provided with an inclosed slotextending along the flange; a horizontally disposed latch extendingthrough the slot in the keeper sufliciently to engage theslots in thebase plate and hasp, and provided with tapering ends and shouldersforming an engaging portion, said handle, keeper and latch allpivotedapproximately on the center of the base plate, a hasp withlateral flanges extending outwardly'at right angles to the main body,with perpendicular slots in the upper portion, and with upper bevelededges and openings in the lower portion, substantially as described.

2. In a reversible latch of the class de scribed, the combination ofamovable keeper, a horizontally disposed latch and a gravity weighthandle, all pivoted approximately on the center of a base plate; aninterior latch lift operating on a pivot, and extending outwardlythrough the'frame and so arranged as to raise the latch on the outsideof the door or gate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD H. SUMMERS.

WVitness es A. P. SUMMEns, J. A. FIRMELL.

